After working across investment banking, wealth management, and private equity, entrepreneurs and founders, Jonathan and Kelly, realized the wealth advisory industry was lacking sophisticated guidance and truly unbiased advice for families. Below, Jonathan and Kelly talk about forming Defiant Capital Group to meet the needs that accompany complex wealth.
Interviewer: Jonathan and Kelly, let’s start with the origins of Defiant Capital Group. What inspired you to start the firm?
Jonathan Dane: Over the years, we worked closely with successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and families navigating significant financial complexity. What we found was that traditional wealth management firms often offered cookie-cutter solutions, failing to address the nuanced needs of those who had built wealth through their businesses. There was a gap between what these clients needed and what was available in the market.
Kelly Dane: Exactly. Most firms focus narrowly on investment management and fail to integrate business advisory, tax efficiency, or estate structuring in a meaningful way. Entrepreneurs have unique challenges—whether it’s liquidity events, succession planning, or aligning their wealth with their long-term vision. My background as a private equity and venture investor gave me deep insight into the investment world, allowing us a unique perspective to evaluate opportunities. We started Defiant Capital Group to provide that holistic, sophisticated approach.
Interviewer: What differentiates Defiant Capital Group from traditional wealth management firms?
Jonathan Dane: Everyone says it, but we mean it – our approach for every client is bespoke. We don’t believe in off-the-shelf portfolios or templated planning. Every client has a unique story, and a firm should design strategies that are aligned with those individual objectives. This objective typically encompass their personal wealth, family business and long-term estate needs. Once we understand this our will develop a plan that integrates investment management, estate planning, tax optimization, and private investment opportunities into a cohesive, forward-thinking strategy.
“Every client has a unique story, and a firm should design strategies that are aligned with those individual objectives.”
– Jonathan Dane
Kelly Dane: Additionally, we are fiercely independent. Unlike many firms that have hidden conflicts due to proprietary products or commissions, our model is built around pure alignment with our clients. We sit on the same side of the table, ensuring that every recommendation is driven solely by what’s in their best interest. And on top of that, we align with our clients by investing alongside them, in the same vehicles, at the same terms.
Interviewer: Speaking of investment management, how does your firm’s approach stand apart?
Jonathan Dane: Investment management is not a commoditized product, yet many firms treat it that way. We believe that an investment strategy should be as tailored as a financial plan. We take an institutional-grade approach, blending public and private markets, alternatives, and custom structured solutions. Our clients get access to investments beyond traditional asset classes, whether that’s private equity, venture capital, private credit, or niche private market opportunities directly into companies or smaller funds.
Kelly Dane: I’m able to leverage my background as a private equity investor and venture capitalist to evaluate, source, and execute on our private market opportunities. We know how institutional investors and funds think, and we leverage that insight to provide our clients with access to exclusive investment opportunities that align with their financial goals.
“I’m able to leverage my background as a private equity investor and venture capitalist to evaluate, source, and execute on our private market opportunities.”
– Kelly Dane
Interviewer: How does tax and estate planning factor into your wealth management process?
Jonathan Dane: Tax is one of the biggest factors affecting long-term wealth preservation. Our planning goes beyond traditional tax efficiency—we incorporate entity structuring, family office strategies, and multi-generational planning to ensure our clients retain and grow their wealth in the most effective way possible.
Many successful individuals build incredible businesses but fail to structure their estate in a way that protects their wealth for the next generation. We integrate legal, financial, and tax planning to create a seamless approach to wealth transfer.
Interviewer: Finally, what does it mean to “defy convention” in wealth management?
Jonathan Dane: The name “Defiant” wasn’t chosen lightly. It represents the mindset of our clients—those who have built wealth by challenging norms and thinking differently. Our firm embraces that philosophy, rejecting the traditional, outdated approach to wealth advisory in favor of something truly customized, strategic, and dynamic.
Kelly Dane: We are building a firm that evolves with our clients. The financial world is changing, and the families we work with deserve an advisor who is proactive, adaptive, and relentlessly committed to their success.
Interviewer: Thank you both for sharing your insights. It’s clear that Defiant Capital Group is doing something truly different in the industry.
At Defiant Capital Group, we provide high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and business owners with a sophisticated and strategic approach to wealth management, investment advisory, and estate planning. Our deep expertise in private investments, tax-efficient structures, and multi-generational planning ensures that every financial decision is aligned with your long-term goals.
